Vicki Murphy (center) hands a tray to a resident as Barbara Pixley prepares another while the two were volunteering at the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission recently for a lunch service

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Giving means something different to everyone, and popular holiday gifts have always included time, money and effort.

Volunteerism and charity are staples of the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Religiosity and compassion seem to come on stronger as the year draws down, and local charities are rarely better staffed.

"It's the spirit of this time of the year," said Shreveport Salvation Army Volunteer Coordinator Tanya Shelton. "We're all programmed to know the holidays are a time for giving back." ...